How We Tested Do-It-Yourself Flooring

Replacing a floor can be a pricey endeavor. Fortunately, new options in do-it-yourself products can provide the look you want without hassle or too much expense. The Good Housekeeping Research Institute looked at do-it-yourself flooring systems  which all claim to be easy to cut with just a utility knife  in a variety of sizes, styles (carpet, laminate, etc.), and shapes (square tile, rectangular plank, roll out) to bring you easy-install options for every room in the house. Find out how engineers at the GHRI evaluated flooring systems, then read our reviews to see which types of flooring performed the best.

How We Tested

To see how easy each was to cut, each flooring system was cut to a standard size (8" x 8") using the same utility knife.

To see how easy the flooring was to install, we followed the manufacturer's directions and installed four sample tiles on a floor (2' x 2' wood plank).

To see how easy it would be if you had to replace a piece or section of the flooring in the event it got stained or worn out, we cut out a single tile and replaced it.

To see how well they resisted staining, we applied one teaspoon of dirt, cola, wine, syrup and oil to each piece of flooring and immediately attempted to clean them using an all-purpose cleaner and then again after the stains set for one hour.

To assess water resistance, we poured water on an 8" x 8" sample. 250 ml of distilled water was placed through a funnel to drop on the flooring specimen. After the water filtered completely through the funnel, the specimen was tapped three times to remove excess water. The specimens were then reviewed to determine the amount of wetness left on the specimen face.

To test durability, we placed each sample on an abrasion tester and ran it for 500 cycles, then assessed how worn it became.

To see how well each could resist temperature changes, we placed each sample in our climatology room and adjusted the temperature from 70ºF to 35ºF. We then did the opposite and went from 35ºF to 70ºF. Since temperature probes were hooked up to the samples we could then see how resistant the floors were to temperature changes.

We asked consumer testers to judge the quality of the flooring after it was cut and installed. They looked for things such as: were the cuts smooth, did the flooring align properly, and was the flooring flush against the ground.

We checked to see if any damage would result from a weight being dropped on the floor from a height of about 40 inches. We also dropped a cast iron pot onto each sample three times from a height of 3 feet and then assessed each sample for physical damage.

We asked consumers to walk on each installed sample with no shoes on, and rate the comfort level of each.

Before You Buy

Consider the type of flooring you want: Are you looking for vinyl? Laminate? Engineered hardwood? Carpet? Before choosing, decide first how long you plan to keep the floor  natural materials are more durable, but more expensive upfront.

Vinyl tiles are usually installed using adhesive strips or have adhesive backing right on them so you just peel and stick! Bonuses, there is a ton of variety in the patterns and they have good durability.

Laminate is an affordable option that is easier to maintain than its counterparts. Laminate flooring is available in a wide array of styles, colors and patterns.

Engineered hardwood is made up of individual sheets of wood pressed together to form a plank. The product thus has the natural characteristics of the selected wood species as opposed to a photographic layer like laminate. These are usually very natural looking and come in a variety of designs with lifetime warranties. They can scratch though and spilled liquids may damage the finish. Most of this type of flooring system are floating (meaning they aren't physically attached to the subflooring and they usually lock together keeping the adjacent planks in place).

Carpeting provides a very specific aesthetic  texturally very different from the other options. Cleaning is also a bit more arduous. Very few DIY options are available for this type of flooring.

Keep in mind the room for your flooring when you shop. The kitchen gets lots of traffic so a durable, stain-resistant floor is your best bet; for the bathroom, water resistance should be a key factor in your decision.

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